At the 2017 NHL Draft, the New Jersey Devils selected Fabian Zetterlund with the 63rd overall pick. Zetterlund was destined to show his potential in New Jersey, but was traded over to the San Jose Sharks in 2023 as part of the Timo Meier trade.
Zetterlund showed his potential by recording 83 points in 168 career games in San Jose despite the Sharks being one of the worst teams in the NHL during his tenure.
This past March, Zetterlund's tenure in San Jose ended when he was traded to the Ottawa Senators along with Tristen Robins. Despite recording two points as a Senator since being traded over, the Senators have won the Zetterlund trade already.
Players on Sharks are pointless since the trade
The two players the Senators traded away to the Sharks to get Zetterlund and Robins were Zack Ostapchuk and Noah Gregor. While the Senators did trade away a 2025 second-round pick in the trade, Ostapchuk and Gregor have been unproductive since being traded over to San Jose.
At the time of the trade, Gregor had recorded six points in 42 games as a Senator this season. Gregor was becoming unplayable in Ottawa and was dealing with injuries that kept him out of the lineup since January. Since being traded to San Jose, Gregor has recorded zero points in six games played. A liability gone from the Senators lineup was needed, but the same can be said for Ostapchuk.
While Ostapchuk did go pointless in his Sharks debut, he made a strong impression by getting into a fight with Tom Wilson of the Washington. But, just like Gregor, Ostapchuk is also pointless with the Sharks while playing in nine games. Before getting traded, Ostapchuk recorded four points in 43 games with the Senators this season.
Gregor will be a restricted free agent after this season and Ostapcchuk has one year remaining on his restricted contract, but both of them have struggled since being traded to put the Sharks in a position of what to do with both of them.
For Zetterlund, he has two assists in 15 games played in his Senators tenure. Despite not scoring a goal yet, Zetterlund has had quality chances to score while playing alongside Tim Stutzle, but the goaltenders have stood tall and denied him.
Robins has been a sneaky pickup for an AHL player. Robins has recorded five assists in 12 games in Belleville. This past Friday, Robins recorded a two-assist game.
While Robins will be a retricted free agent after this season, he's shown AHL growth in Belleville at 23 years old. Just like Robins, potential is there for Zetterlund.
Zetterlund will be a restricted free agent after this season. Despite just recording two assists, the 25-year old has potential that can be reached more.
Last season, Zetterlund's 44 points was the third most on the Sharks roster. This season before getting traded, Zetterlund recorded 36 points with the Sharks.
Potential is still there for both Zetterlund and Robins, but the Sharks could have some uncertainty with Ostapchuk and Gregor moving forward.